The Council

by Phoenix Willow

  “Because she is the one who was given the quest by the Council, so she’s the one that has to complete it. Besides, I don’t know how Slayer would affect us here. It might overpower our thoughts and make us want to keep it instead of getting rid of it.” Foster stated.

  “Then we just have to be quick.” Jewel said as she took the little wooden chest out of her bag. She looked it over and it looked no worse for the wear, which was amazing given the fact that it had been through quite a bit, including Jewel’s tumble down the desertcano.

  “Quick isn’t going to cut it, Green.” Galadriel said as he finally rejoined the group. His eyes looked haunted, and Jewel could only wonder what it was that he had seen in his mind within the cave.

  “Well, Trickster, do you have a better idea?” Jewel quirked her eyebrow.

  “As a matter of fact, I do.” Galadriel smirked, a bit of his mischievous expression appearing as he took off his shirt.

  Jewel’s eyes widened, not understanding why he was doing what he was doing, but also secretly enjoying the view a bit more than she probably should have been. She knew her cheeks were reddening, and she hoped that if anyone noticed that they would chalk it up to the sun.

  “That’s brilliant.” Sage said as he too took off his shirt.

  “Do you have any idea what they’re doing Spitfire?” Rain asked, mouth agape.

  Jewel shook her head. “Not a clue. But your boyfriend must, because Gusty is doing the same thing.” She commented as Foster put her down.

  Rain and Jewel stared at the three shirtless guys in front of them and were even more bewildered when Foster came over with a bunch of branches. Jewel hadn’t even seen him leave the entrance of the cave, so where he had gotten the branches, she hadn’t the faintest idea, but perhaps that had more to do with Galadriel’s rippling muscles as he, Sage, and Zephyr started tying the fabric together. Foster handed them the branches that he had somehow intertwined, and within a minute, the boys turned with huge grins on their faces, handing Jewel a sort of umbrella that they had constructed for her.

  Jewel’s eyes lit up with excitement and understanding. She tucked the wooden chest under the crook of one arm, took the umbrella from Galadriel, and stepped away from the lip of the cave that she had been hiding from the sun under. She could still feel the sun’s rays, but they were bearable.

  “This is perfect!” Jewel gushed. “This is absolutely perfect. Thank you guys for literally giving me the shirts off your back.”

  “Anytime, Green.” Galadriel answered, beaming from Jewel’s excitement.

  “Well, let’s go so we can get out of here.” Foster said, his wings lifting him off the ground a few inches. “I for, one have had enough of this place.”

  “I agree with the Fairy.” Rain said as she took off quickly, Zephyr following closely behind.

  Sage and Galadriel were in a deep conversation of sorts behind Jewel and she couldn’t help but wonder what it was all about. Galadriel would barely meet her gaze and he looked more troubled than Jewel had ever seen him, and that was saying something.

  “He likes you.” The largest renuviant squeaked as the invisibility dropped around all four of the crystal-like creatures.

  “Noooo. He loves her.” The skinny renuviant squeaked.

  “Bet the ice man won’t like that.” The smallest renuviant squeaked.

  “Eh. She’s the Sovereign. She can choose and do what she wants.” The renuviant with mismatched antennae said.

  “There’s nothing to talk about. He likes me as a sister. Nothing more.” Jewel said, wondering not for the first time if her words were completely true, and based on the renuviants squeaky snorts, she could tell that they didn’t think so. Desperate to change the subject, Jewel asked something she had wondered for a really long time. “Do you four really just sit on me all day or do you ever, like, I don’t know, go for a fly or disappear for a while?”

  The smallest renuviant snort squeaked. “No, we don’t just sit on you all day.”

  “We go out to fly and to get food, but we do it in pairs, so you’re never left alone.” The skinniest renuviant explained.

  “Yeah. No offense, but other than these excursions, we attempt to keep as far away from your physical form as possible.” The renuviant with the mismatched antennae remarked.

  “Why is that?” Jewel asked, wondering if she needed to wash her hair more or use more deodorant.

  “Because you’re a bit clumsy. You fall a lot, and even when you sleep you thrash about.” The largest renuviant said bluntly.

  Jewel threw back her head and laughed until her stomach ached. She had expected a much different answer, but the renuviants’ candor was refreshing.

  “Uh. Everything okay there Green?” Galadriel asked.

  Jewel wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled. “Everything is fine. Just having an interesting conversation with my renuviant friends is all.

  Galadriel’s brow quirked up. “You sure that’s all it is? You aren’t hurting from the sun, are you? You know, becoming delirious?”

  Jewel shook her head. “No, Trickster. Now that isn’t to say that I want to stay out here much longer, because even with this wonderful umbrella, I am still hurting a little. But I’m definitely not delirious.”

  “Okay, because if you-” Galadriel began, but stopped as Foster fluttered down to Jewel quickly.

  “We’ve reached the peak. Hurry so we can do this and leave.” Foster said urgently. Jewel picked up the pace and went as quickly as possible, tripping a couple of times, but thankfully not falling. Didn’t keep the renuviants from pointing out her clumsiness though.

  When they reached the top, Jewel was taken aback. There were literal piles of items and trinkets scattered about and they all had a weird melted look about them. It reminded her of a painting she had seen on one of the field trips she had gone on in school, and if it hadn’t been real life, she would have studied the scene more, but as it was, Jewel felt like she was starting to melt as well.

  “What do the instructions say, Spitfire?” Rain said, sweat dripping down her face.

  Jewel struggled to get the instructions out of the bag while holding the chest and umbrella, but thankfully Galadriel picked up on that and took the umbrella so Jewel could search more easily.

  “Alright, we went where the clouds are high but not outside, and then we did the gondola ride which was like sitting in another world. We found the chest which was the object that we were seeking and now we’re here at the strangest peak, because I don’t think it gets any weirder than everything we have seen today. Present scene included. Next set of instructions includes a spell, but before the spell can be said, we’re supposed to put the chest to the right of an object that represents, and I quote, ‘that which can never be duplicated’ and only after a potion has been ingested. It says that the potion that should be picked will ‘slow things down but make you quick, and is quite green, but won’t make you sick’.”

  “Well what the chocolate sauce is that supposed to mean?” Rain said, turning to Sage as he was known to the group as the potion master.

  “I’m good, but not that good.” Sage said with a bemused expression, but seeing Rain’s scowl he quickly added, “You guys find the object we have to put the chest next to first, and I’ll look around for possible potions.” Sage said as he began searching.

  Jewel didn’t need to be told twice. The umbrella was helping, but every time it shifted, and a piece of her skin was exposed to the sun, she winced from the pain. “An object that represents something that can’t be duplicated. Now what would that be?” She said to herself aloud as she looked over countless items.

  “It’s here.” Zephyr said excitedly. “It’s a clock. It’s got to be a clock, because time can never be duplicated- it goes against the laws of nature.”

  “Chocolate covered cherries. That’s brilliant. You’re brilliant.” Rain said, giving Zephyr a huge hug.

  “Okay. Let’s try it out.” Jewel said as she placed the chest do
wn to the right of the melted clock that was somehow still ticking. “Alright, so just the potion and then the recitation of the spell.” She smiled until she saw Sage coming over and carrying three potions with a serious expression.

  “Holey buckets.” Jewel murmured as she braced herself for what was surely about to be some not-so-good news.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Guardians of the Light

  “Okay, so we have a little hiccup, but nothing to worry too much about.” Sage said, forcing a smile that definitely didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ve narrowed it down to three choices, but I’m not sure any of it fits, because frankly, I’ve never seen any of these potions before and I don’t recognize any of their properties.”

  “You’ve never seen those three potions?” Galadriel said, obviously shocked.

  Sage shook his head. “I don’t think they’re potions that we would have learned about in Mage City and look at the writing on the front. It’s some sort of weird symbol language that I can’t decipher. It doesn’t look like the Fairy writing, it’s definitely not a written language I’ve seen before. It’s pictures for potion’s sake. I mean, who puts pictures on something that needs to be deciphered?” He said exasperatedly.

  Jewel took the three potion bottles from Sage and looked over the symbols. The first held a beautiful golden color with a picture of a sun rising and a sun setting along with an hour glass symbol that Jewel had seen when reading about the Keepers of Tempus; The second was a disgusting goopy looking potion that resembled snot when you have a sinus infection, yellow and green mingling together with a little clear slime in the mix, and the picture on the front looked like an individual’s head with the scalp open, showing the brain with question marks and exclamation points surrounding it; And the third bottle was a lime green color, thicker consistency, but had a pair of feet that appeared to be running with wisp like markings behind the feet as though the runner was moving very quickly.

  “O-kay. So, it should be the third bottle, right?” Rain started. “It’s green, and based on the pictures on the bottle, it looks like it will make you run fast. Although the second bottle is sort of green, but I really hope it’s not the second potion, because that one looks repulsive.” She said with a grimace. “So, let’s just say it’s the third bottle.”

  “Yeah, but what if the instructions aren’t to be taken so literally?” Zephyr suggested. “Not to say that your logic isn’t right, but it seems too straightforward.”

  “What if it’s the first potion.” Sage offered. “It has the symbol of a Keeper of Tempus, and that would go with the ‘slow things down but make you quick’ portion of the instructions.” He reasoned.

  “But it’s not green.” Galadriel pointed out.

  The largest renuviant snorted as it moved onto Jewel’s palm and faced her, dropping the invisibility once again. “Well, say hello to Captain Obvious over there.”

  “Yeah. No wonder you don’t claim him to be your boy.” The skinniest renuviant said as it flew to Jewel’s other hand.

  “I hate to say it, but it doesn’t look like any of them are very bright.” The smallest renuviant squeaked as it took a place on Jewel’s forearm.

  “Hey!” Jewel chided. “That’s rude.”

  “Rude or not, it’s the truth.” The large renuviant said.

  “And here’s some more of the truth- we have held off the effects of the polarrier as long as we can. There’s not much time for you to figure it out, so we’re going to help.” The renuviant with mismatched antennae stated.

  “The disgusting one, as your friend who seems to hate us, so eloquently put it, is the one you’ll want. The instructions aren’t to be taken so literally. Well, at least not the first part.” The largest renuviant said.

  “Are you sure?” Jewel asked hesitantly, the rest of the group quieting down as they noticed that Jewel wasn’t talking to any of them.

  “Yep. That potion is an ancient one used by royals, leaders, and the most powerful of magicals. It helps give the drinker clarity so they can process things better. It makes them smarter than most which is why the potion is said to slow things down but make them quick. Quick in the sense of being someone who has the ability to catch on to things faster than others.” The skinniest renuviant explained.

  “And slows things down in the sense that the drinker is able to see everything clearly and therefore process it more efficiently.” The largest renuviant added.

  Jewel nodded, feeling confident that the renuviants wouldn’t lead her astray. She took the bottle, unstoppered it, moving her nose out of the way of the potent smell that reminded Jewel of gross feet, and tipped it back, trying desperatedly to not hurl as chunks of something slimy hit her tongue. She forced herself to swallow it all, knowing that she didn’t have much time before the pain from the polarrier’s effects became too overwhelming. She turned to face the group and saw a look of horror on Galadriel’s and Rain’s, but Foster, Sage, and Zephyr were looking with a more curious expression.

  “Do you feel any different?” Sage asked

  Jewel shook her head. “No, but maybe-” She began, but that’s when the effects of the potion kicked in. Everything around Jewel seemed to slow down. She could see for miles around as she had never been able to do before. Veins of leaves, particles floating through the air, weird butterflies with bat wings that they fortunately hadn’t run into. It was like Jewel’s eyes had become binoculars, zooming in and zooming out as she so desired.

  And then there was her mind which felt like spring cleaning had gone on. Usually there was a lot of clutter and a thousand thoughts going on at once, but there was none of that now. Only silence, and clarity now that all her thoughts were organized. And when she looked at the group, it was like seeing them for the first time. Each blade of hair, the small red veins in Rain’s eyes that showed she had been crying, the fact that Foster’s wings had two layers that Jewel hadn’t noticed before now, and the way Galadriel’s jaw ticked ever so slightly when he was worried, which his brighter than normal yellow-ish aura definitely showed.

  “This is amazing. It’s like a different world.” Jewel said in awe as she looked at the four renuviants on her arms. “You four really are amazing, and I never noticed it before, but the small dips and angles on your bodies are why you look so sparkly all the time. Sort of like cuts in a diamond.” She said, knowing somehow that it was true. “And you know what, I’m done with not knowing what names to call you. I’m going to name you right now, if that’s alright with you four.”

  “It’s about time. We were wondering when you were going to do that.” The smallest renuviant squeaked.

  “You will be Milan.” Jewel started, getting a snort in response from the skinny renuviant who she named next. “You will be Alex.” She paused slightly when she got to the renuviant with mismatched antennae, but a name popped into her head and she went with it. “Hmmm….you will be Oakley and you will be Chief since you seem to do most of the talking.” She explained to the big renuviant whose wings puffed out in a show of agreement. “Is that good with all of you?”

  “Absolutely, especially since I got the best name.” Chief stated, causing a debate between the four renuviants who believed that their name was actually the best.

  “Chocolate sauce.” Rain said with a good-natured roll of her eyes. “Not trying to break up this happy moment of you naming your insects, but is anything happening with Slayer, Spitfire?”

  The four renuviants blew razzberries in Rain’s direction, clearly offended by her inferring they were insects, but Jewel on the other hand was glad that someone had brought her mind back from enjoying the scenery and naming her four, winged friends. They were there for a quest, after all, and Jewel was only too happy to get it done.

  She tilted the chest backwards and heard Slayer slide to the other side. “It’s still in there.” Jewel shook her head.

  “Probably because you didn’t say the spell, Green.” Galadriel smirked as he held the umbrella over her, trying to bl
ock out as much of the sun as possible.

  Jewel’s cheeks reddened as she realized he was right. She had been too caught up in the wonders of the potion’s effects. Taking out her instructions, she began reciting the spell, “I come to receive aid to remove a stain upon the light, to destroy the Ancient Corruptible once and for all, so that it may never again spread its darkness.” She repeated the spell seven times, and by the sixth she could sense a change in the atmosphere. By the seventh, however, everything around her had become frozen in time, even her friends.

  “O-kay. This is weird, because this is definitely not my doing.” Jewel said to herself as she nudged a very still Rain.

  “That’s because- it is ours.” A disembodied voice said before a bright light descended from the sky and morphed into the most beautiful woman and man, if you could refer to them as that, that Jewel had ever seen. The woman had golden skin, curly hair the color of honey, and eyes like liquid amber. She was donning a long, flowing gown that was made from a material that was reminiscent of water and clouds, and that draped over her bright white wings. The man was in complete juxtaposition to the woman, but it didn’t deter from his beauty in the least. He had a caramel complexion, dark eyes, and hair the color of the darkest night. He too was wearing the same material as the woman, but his was a loose-fitting shirt that allowed his brown-black wings to be unrestrained, and white pants that looked like he was on vacation at an island resort that was much too posh for Jewel to ever visit. They both stood staring at Jewel with slight smiles on their faces, and Jewel had an overwhelming feeling that she should be bowing or something. And even with her newfound clarity that she had obtained from the potion, she still had no idea who these two were. Guess the potion only went so far.

  “Hello, Jewel. It’s nice to finally meet face to face.” The woman said in a silky-smooth voice.

  “Uh…..you know me?” Jewel said in a statement but still questioning tone.

  The woman nodded. “We do. You are the one that will fix what the worlds have become. You were chosen for this task, and it is imperative that you not fail.”